Downing decisions, Francis Carmont eyes exciting finishes on way to UFC title

Francis Carmont (20-7 MMA, 4-0 UFC) hasn’t lost in nearly five years, but to hear him talk about his most recent appearance, it’s clear he doesn’t consider it a true victory.

Carmont has eyes on an eventual shot at the UFC middleweight title, but he knows a split-decision win over Tom Lawlor isn’t going to get him there any faster.

“I didn’t make the fight I wanted,” Carmont told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). “I want to finish all my fights, so I’m not satisfied with my performance against Tom Lawlor, but I’m going to come back strong to make a good fight.”

For the 31-year-old Carmont, a French-born fighter now living in Canada, that UFC 154 fight proved a more difficult challenge than he expected. A veteran of fights around the globe, Carmont fought in his adopted hometown of Montreal, and he admits the experience proved problematic.

“I didn’t feel good,” Carmont admitted. “I think there was a lot of pressure because I had a lot of friends and family in Montreal. Usually I go to another country to fight, but this was my country now, and I think there was a little bit of pressure

“When go to another country, you don’t know anybody. You just do your work. But when you fight in your own country, it’s so different.”

Despite the challenge, Carmont did pick up a victory, and he now boasts a nine-fight win streak that includes four UFC outings. He’ll put that run on the line at next month’s “UFC on FOX 7: Henderson vs. Melendez” event, where he meets Strikeforce import Lorenz Larkin (13-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on the evening’s FUEL TV-broadcast preliminary card.

Larkin is a flashy striker who is certainly capable of highlight-reel moments, and Carmont said he’s excited for the chance to engage.

“He’s one of the best middleweights in the world,” Carmont said. “He’s undefeated. He had good performances in Strikeforce, and now he comes to the UFC very hungry to make a big fight and go to the title. But you know, it’s the same for me. I want to have good fights and continue my way to the middleweight belt. But I like the fight because it’s an exciting fighter.

“He’s not a wrestling guy will look to kill the fight. He comes for an exciting fight. I come for that, too. It’s going to be an exciting fight. I prefer to stand up in the fight. He is the same. It’s true, it’s MMA, and you must do wrestling and jiu-jitsu, but if he wants to strike, I’m ready for that.”

And with a win, Carmont could very well be ready for a matchup with a top contender at 185 pounds. With Lawlor, Karlos Vemola, Magnus Cedenblad and Chris Camozzi in his rear-view mirror, Carmont is now starting to let himself consider what lies ahead.

“It’s my target; I want to have that belt,” Carmont said. “For the moment, I’m focused on Lorenz Larkin, but we fight in the best organization in the world, and I want the belt. I want to be the first man in the UFC to defeat Anderson Silva. But it’s not for the moment. It’s Lorenz Larkin, and I’m focused on him.”

And Carmont said he’s focused on getting finishes as he makes his way up the ladder.

“I want people to know who I am,” Carmont said. “I don’t want to make a boring fight. That happens to every fighter. Even Anderson Silva has had boring fights. But I want to forget about that last fight. I want to move forward and put on exciting fights.”

A total of 26 fighters got their chance to shine on Saturday as part of UFC 190 at Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena. Now that UFC 190 is in the books, it’s time to commence MMAjunkie’s “Three Stars” ceremony.

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